ZERO RATED: Nasza Biedronka

Nasza Biedronka, Stonka and Chopan Authentic Cuisine, all of New Hall Lane and The Nile of Church Street have all been given the worst rating of zero stars.

And a further 26 businesses were criticised by inspectors and told they must make major improvements if they were to meet standards.

There were also 36 places which received a two star, improvement necessary, rating although hundreds of businesses around the city were awarded three, four and five stars for their hygiene.

The number of zero ratings for 2016 is an improvement on 2015 with seven receiving the lowest score last year.

Brucciani’s, on Fishergate, and Europa Delikatesy have improved their zero star rating to three in the past 12 months. Pound Box in Holme Slack lane has also improved from zero stars but still requires improvement after receiving one star. Simon Dunn Choclatier in Friargate also received a zero star rating but has since closed since last year’s inspection. New Friargate Social Club received zero stars in 2015 but was not included in this year’s ratings. Stonka and Nasza Biedronka were also one of the seven given a zero rating in 2015 and have failed to improve this year.

Takeaway Chopan Authentic Cuisine, wasn’t involved in the 2015 ratings but was given a zero rating on February 16, 2016 and after being told to leave a phone number with staff for the owner to provide a comment, none was received despite asking twice. Stonka staff said their boss was not available for comment on both visits and did not provide one via the email or phone number left. When Nasza Biedronka staff were asked if the store’s bosses would like to comment on the store’s low rating, staff told the LEP he was “away for six weeks” and when asked if the manager of the store would comment, he declined.

The Nile, which has dropped all three stars it recieved in last year’s ratings -

Simon Neighbour, environmental health manager at Preston City Council, said: “Preston’s restaurants and takeaway owners deserve real credit for the way they are running their businesses and ensuring the safety of their customers. Of course there are isolated premises where this doesn’t happen and people will make their own minds up about whether to eat there or not. Certainly the feedback we get from owners is that they are proud to display their food hygiene ratings and it helps to makes customers feel at ease about choosing to eat there. The best premises also don’t need to be inspected as often which is great for them but also great for us too. It means we can focus our attention on the places that are more of a risk and that’s the way it should be. So come to Preston and eat well – it’s a great place to eat out or to grab a takeaway.”

The scores on the doors food hygiene system was established in 2011 and, in Preston, council inspectors visit food premises and give a ratings out of five.

A spokesperson from the Food Standards Agency explained there are three key elements to a hygiene inspection.

“A food safety officer inspects a business to check that it meets the requirements of food hygiene law. The officer is from the local authority where the business is located.

At the inspection, the officer will check: “How hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored.

“The condition of the structure of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities.

“How the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and so that the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future.

“Each of these three elements is essential for making sure that food hygiene standards meet requirements and the food served or sold to you is safe to eat.”

Zero is given to businesses who need to make urgent improvements and the full marks are given to the places deemed ‘very good’.

Places given a five star rating include dozens of schools, care homes, hotels and village halls.

Ingol Village Golf Club, Tanterton Hall Road, 53 Degrees on Fylde Road and Olive Tree Brasserie on Lancaster Road were just some to be awarded top marks.